Week 1: Summer is Only the Beginning! – Detroit Community-Engaged Research Program

Week 1: Summer is Only the Beginning!

Hi everyone!

My name is Yasmine (pronounced yes-mean/or yaz-mean, whatever you prefer) and I’m currently a rising sophomore at UMich hoping to major in Public Policy at the Ford school. This summer I’ll be working with the Community Development Advocates of Detroit (or CDAD for short). I can’t wait to get to know all of you! ๐Ÿ™‚

To me, community is more than just living somewhere with a group of people. Community has always been, to me, the backbone of societies. Without the community I grew up in, I would be a completely different person than I am today. Our shared experiences, different lives, and geographic similarities provide us the foundation for building something larger than ourselves. Doing community work in Detroit is necessary, and important to combatting the injustices and structural change that drives away Detroit residents. Working with an organization like CDAD, that prioritizes the voices and concerns of their members (who are residents of Detroit) allows for us to do work that truly matters to people. It is not working in Detroit that necessarily attracted me, since anywhere that I can lend a hand to those who need it is somewhere I would love to be.

Previously, in high school, I would do a lot of organizational work within our school’s National Honor Society. Working with authority figures during this time has helped me become more confident in my voice, and ideas, rather than shying away and being scared of those who have higher titles than me. I bring a new perspective to the table that not many workplaces have valued in the past. One thing is for sureโ€“ there is more to me than what meets the eye. This summer, I would like to understand more about city/state/local governments and positions, as well as being apart of public policy driven spaces. I would be proud if I learn more about these processes.

Can’t wait to meet all of you someday and I hope your summer goes well! ๐Ÿ™‚

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